WTIC AM Purge: Diane Smith, Colin McEnroe

The end of the year sweeps out two more local voices from Hartford talk radio.

New Year's Eve will be the last day for Diane Smith who has been half of "Mornings with Ray and Diane" for nine years on Hartford's WTIC AM. Out at the end of the year, too, is afternoon raconteur and fellow Courant blogger and columnist Colin McEnroe.

"After months of reporting on every aspect of the global economic slowdown," Smith said in an e-mailed announcement Tuesday, "I have a new angle to report: After 9 years on the air at WTIC-AM NewsTalk 1080, I will sign off as co-host of "Mornings with Ray and Diane" at 10am on 12/31/08."

She says she's in talks with the station to explore ways to continue to contribute. In the meantime, she is at work at developing a new weekly series for CPTV, "Connecticut on the Road" as she continues her series "Positively Connecticut" which will produce a fifth book for Globe Pequot Press.

"Most of all," she says, "I hope to find new ways to continue my unofficial role as a goodwill ambassador for Connecticut."

Ray Dunaway's remaining show, which begins at 5:30 a.m., will be shaved an hour to allow more time for Jim Vicevich, the late morning host who will now begin at 9 a.m.; McEnroe's slot will be replaced by a new three-hour news block full of local and national updates by announcers Aaron Kupec and Bill Pearse.

McEnroe, who will apparently be on the air this afternoon, says in a e-mail message "I promised not to say anything until 6:01 p.m. so i'm gonna stay with that."

Update: Indeed, though he began his 3 p.m. show with a song that began, "I'm so depressed, I lost my job," his first words on today's show were "There's no crying in radio, we've got a show to do now" and he immediately began talking about changes in his wardrobe and aspects of Buddhism. It was, in other words, just a regular show.

Pressed about it his imminent ouster by a caller, he said, "I don't want to talk about it" saying he'll have something to say about it Wednesday, on presumably his last show.

After the jump is Smith's full statement (Colin's written statement, I imagine, is yet to come in his own forum):

After 9 years on the air at WTIC-AM NewsTalk 1080, I will sign off as co-host of "Mornings with Ray and Diane" at 10am on 12/31/08.

Ten years ago when I left the world of TV news, I didn't imagine that I would find another job as enthralling, exciting and engaging. Then WTIC Newstalk 1080 came calling, and I realized that my years as a journalist in Connecticut had prepared me well to not only report on the issues facing our state, but to comment on them. The evolution from news anchor to talk show host was interesting, with my partner Ray Dunaway and WTIC's managers urging me to do what I had never done, express my opinions about the stories in the news.

People often ask how I am able to get up so early in the morning. The answer is I couldn't wait to get to work each day at WTIC.

I have worked with wonderfully talented people at WTIC, who are devoted to providing the best news coverage in the state, the best sports programming in the state, and the most interesting and compelling talk radio in the state. I have learned from each one of them, and enjoyed working side by side every morning with people like Angela Dias, Scott Gray, Joe Furey, Dana Whalen, Gerri Griswold, Joey Bourgoin and Bob Joyce.

Most of all I have enjoyed working with Ray Dunaway, who has made me laugh and made me think every single day for nine years.

This is a difficult time in the broadcasting business and in our nation's economy and I understand difficult financial decisions are being made by owners of radio stations throughout the country. WTIC General Manager Suzanne McDonald and Operations Manager Steve Salhany are exploring ways I might continue as part of the NewsTalk 1080 family.

As for what's next, I will be hosting a new weekly series called Connecticut on the Road with Connecticut Public Television in 2009. The series is slated to air in late spring. I plan to continue projects based on Positively Connecticut which I originated during the 16 years I anchored and reported the news at WTNH-TV. Positively Connecticut has spawned four books, published by the Globe Pequot Press, and I am working on a fifth. I have several other projects underway through my company Diane Smith Media. Most of all, I hope to find new ways to continue my unofficial role as a goodwill ambassador for Connecticut.

159 Comments

Let me get this straight, they end great shows by Colin McEnroe and Stan Simpson but now all of a sudden WTIC airs Wolf Pack amateur hockey games that maybe 15 people in the world are interested in listening to?

Save for the occasional listen to a Red Sox or Husky game while driving, Colin was THE ONLY REASON I ever listened to TIC. This is a real shame. He brought so much to the table with great humor. I always counted on him to make me chuckle my way over the late afternoon slump. There will be a big void in my afternoons from now on. It seems like a ridiculously boneheaded move on the "companies" part. In a word, this really sucks.

This is too bad. I didn't agree with him politically but thought he was funny and interesting to listen to. I see Tim can only listen to those that views issues from his narrow eyes but plenty of those lemmings too.

I listen to Ray and Diane every morning while at work. Diane will be missed. Ray is top shelf.
Colin who is witty as all hell, becomes an irritant after a while. On the other hand, giving Buddy V. an extra hour could cause one to switch to FM.

Smith is no great loss. I listen to the morning show for news, weather and traffic. Nothing more, nothing less. Vicevich is unlistenable. Expanding his time is baffling. Limbaugh syndication is going nowhere. That's a cash cow. Losing McEnroe is somewhat troubling. The station now has no balance.

Clearly cost cutting. Morning show eliminates one salary entirely. The two guys who will take over the afternoon probably don't add up together what Colin was getting paid on his own.

I like WTIC, but I'll basically be just tuning in from now on to listen to traffic so I know how to navigate around all of the knotheads in this state.

What a shame. And Colin was a "ratings leader" according to some of the articles covering this. Why he goes and Vicevich stays is beyond my understanding. Ray and Diane are a great team. Diane will be missed, but as another poster said, Ray is "top shelf." But leaving Ray and following him with Vicevich pretty much makes TIC a conservative-leaning station. A Dunaway - McEnroe counterpoint would have been much better and would have kept ratings leaders. More local news from a very good team at WTIC won't be a bad thing, but more Vicevich certainly will. He has the charm and intellect of a toaster. And he has a very high opinion of himself. I will be challenged to feel as loyal to the station as I've been in the past.

Colin could get under your skin from time to time but he did offer an intelligent alternative to the mindless banter. The bigger question is why would you add another hour of Buddy V. who is clearly a legend in his own mind. The clear winner here is going to be NPR. I can only guess that this is a result of underbudgeting for tweezers.

Sure, Colin had a liberal bent, but he was the most informed, smartest person on the radio. He knew his topics top to bottom and presented his beliefs in a very fair manner, and was always willing to listen to the other side, and was willing to concede valid points to the person he was talking with.

I didn't always agree with him, but he was by far the best out there. The Rushbots will be happy to see him go, but the rest of the thinking State will miss him dearly.

His show is the top rated show, and WTIC somehow thinks it's a good idea to lay him off? That's pure insanity. I've got to believe that they're going to lose far more money on this than they are going to save. They have lost me as a listener.

I feel old. I moved here at 20 and lived through the Northeast and Sunken Garden years. Things (in media and the arts have not gotten better this decade only worse. It mirrors the city's decline and to me the loss of hope.

With the media companies and financial companies leaving inner city for the 'burbs Hartford is finally becoming Worcester, Waterbury or Lowell and looking more like a brownfield induatrial city from the North with little or no hope for a turnaround.

As for WTIC -- they took the two least gifted speakers in Hartford media and created the Barbie and Ken of poster children for local radio satire. It would be worthy of an SNL skit. Jim and Dianne could go on SNL and act naturally. The audience would get it. WTIC wouldn't.

I think it is about time for Connecticut to move away from Liberal control. They control the radio airwaves, the blogs and it is time to let the conservatives have some say and not be bullied, threatened and intimidated by certain talk show host(McEnroe) and the blogs.

We need to start eliminating left wing liberal radio and control of blogs and allow all views to be heard.

I am glad Vicevich gets another hour and Rush will continue in 2009 and maybe this new show will be ok It could be worse libs you could have Glenn Beck or Bill O'Reilly after Rush from 3-6 pm.

Let me get this straight, Colin is being replaced by two guys who, up until now, just read the news? Nothing against either, they are great at what they do, but what exactly are they going to bring to the table that will make me want to listen.

This makes WTIC nothing more than a mouthpiece for conservative views.

For those listening to Jimmy, it will be entertaining to see how he turns this bone-headed move a another example of the liberal bias in the media. I'm sure he'll also use this as an opportunity to mention how his mother warned him since the age of 3 that the government wants to take his money. That women must have been/is a terror. XM-Sirius here I come!

You understand that everything you're espousing is reminiscent of Stalin's Russia or Saddam's Iraq.

"eliminating" viewpoints you don't like is what dictators do. An informed population is neccessary for a democracy to work properly. That means listening to both sides, not just one.

PS: Notice that throughout this comment thread you've written with the hyperbole of a 7th grader.
PPS: No controls blogs moron. go get one right now, it's free. Put your money where your mouth is and start one today. Blogger.com

anthony, what did colin bring to the table? after listening to him for a couple of weeks, i knew exactly what his position would be on 99% of topics that would surface. he was incapable of independent thinking, always using the liberal template on every issue. he was pedictable and boring. and if i want to listen to someone with a need to display wit and cleverness, i will listen to a college boy.

This just breaks my heart. I am not aware of another radio broadcast in CT right now that is intelligent at all, with the exception of NPR which is not entertaining in any traditional sense. Colin, I hope you find a better opportunity, you'll be very missed. WTIC, I am furious. You lose one listener, and I hope most. For all you knee jerk conservatives that are mocking this, ha ha, we have a black liberal president :-)!!!

This is frightening news for democracy. With Colin goes all attempts at balance and reasoned thought. The airwaves are dominated by the loud, impulsive, and thoughtless. Democracy can't thrive in a monotone culture. This is a sad day.

It seems that WTIC will become the bastion of right wing hate in CT. I cannot imagine anything more disturbing than the Rush-Limbaugh wannabe Jim Visavich getting extra time followed by his role model-Limbaugh.

I suppose it is safe to get all the right wing nuts in lockstep with one station, at least we know what they are all up to. As far as real Americans go, WTIC is now a nothing station making ridiculous decisions as they gasp one last marketing breath.

Typical left and right comments. Smith will be missed. She keeps Ray in line. I like Jim V. more than Colin and glad he's got 3 hours like everyone else does/did. Colin, politically, I don't agree with. He's bright and witty but often pushes political points using uninformed sources and half truths. But it was good to hear an alternative voice. Politics aside, I do enjoy his humor (love Flight of the Conchords). Best of luck Diane and Colin. Congrats Jim.

Listening to Colin McEnroe while waiting for traffic and weather was torture. He's a smart guy and has some good ideas but what irritated me is that it's his opinion or you're an idiot and worthy of being made fun of. Other than what I need to get through the drive, I don't like talk radio - give me some nice music to wind down after a busy day at work.

… like Air America, Colin failed to produce ratings. Apparently the only places for liberal talk radio will be publicly subsidized or legally mandated venues. In essence, all 253 of you liberal listeners can’t pay the bills at the station!

This was WTIC's best show and one that I always tuned into. A major loss and it's hard to understand the thinking behind such a decision. Why remove such an original local voice? I appreciated his integrity and balance when discussing events/issues. Who else is going to make us laugh the way he did with his funny observations on our life here in Connecticut not to mention nationally or globally.

Wow! Did not see this coming! As a Conservative (and Rush fan) I thoroughly enjoyed Colin. Although I did not always share is point of view, he is one of the most articulate, intelligent and entertaining talk hosts I listen to. I thought his liberal point of view came from personal beliefs, and his convictions were both passionate and fair. I will be tuning my radio away from WTIC. Good luck Colin you will be missed!

Upset? Me? Not at all. Colin was the only reason I ever listened to News-Crap 1080, but it's not as if he's actually leaving. It's all over the Connecticut sports blogs--he's moving to POP to do the local pre-game show before every Yankees game. Sports au une. Sound hideous? Put in perspective: Dunaway, Vicevich, Limbaugh. Still sound hideous? I didn't think so. Go Colin! Go Yankees!

I was surprised that TIC has decided to remove the last vestiges of political balance from its broadcast lineup. Colin and Diane were also the most intelligent and most educated of their contributors.
That the motive was political more than financial seems apparent by the move to expand Vicevich's program to three hours. I believe that the time to speak out will be when the staion's license comes up for renewal and comments are solicited for its FCC application about how it is serving its community. By then its motto might be: "All Hate, All the Time!"

Back when radio was important, one could get a great deal of information from thinking professionals on the air. There used to be an assumption that the audience could think for tiself and that the media's job was to give audience members a variety of viewpoints and let the listeners come to their own conclusions.

No more on WTIC.

WTIC's removal of Smith means that Dunaway will get-his-way. Smith served as a nice way to temper Ray, who on his own tends to go off the deep end.

WTIC's removal of McEnroe means that their only non-conservative right winger is off. McEnrole could be annoying sometimes, but he always treated the audience as bright, thinking, adults, and he provided viewpoints not otherwise heard on WTIC (or most mainstream radio).

Vicevitch is incredibly bad. He sounds as if he is auditioning to be a fill-in for Rush. His program is stupid and mean spirited. the fact that WTIC would expand it proves that the station has no respect for listeners. They apparently do not respect the listeners' ability to think.

Given their lack of respect for listeners, we should no longer tune in to WTIC. There are other locally produced public affairs programs on FM radio below 92 MHz.

Those of us who believe in the marketplace of ideas, should turn off WTIC now. Very sad.

Amazing....the only intelligent show left on WTIC AM, aside from Computer Talk With TAB, has been axed. Colin McEnroe was an "island of intellect and humor" in an otherwise sea of garbage and insulting banality on WTIC. Rush "Limberger", Jim Viso "Bore" along with Ray "Dudaway" make for a great lineup. I guess WTIC didn't learn from this past election....garbage political commentary from the "right" isn't in vogue any more. Rush and Jim and Ray (a champion of John Roland lest we forget)are a comic trio. Bye-bye "TIC".....

Connecticut just overwhelmingly elected a liberal Democrat as president and WTIC thought it was a good idea to expand its conservative programming by an hour? What a stupid business decision. Colin, I didn't always agree with you but I enjoyed your show (politics aside, Vicevich is just not very entertaining and I stopped listening to him months ago. Ray and Diane had decent shows) and I'll miss you. I hope you get another program somewhere in Conn. I'll definitely tune in if you do.

I can’t believe they cut McEnroe and left that nitwit Vicevich.
Well they just lost me as a listener. I never agreed with his politics but you have to give credit to someone that can present the facts so well. I wish him the best of luck. I am very disappointed.

Why would a station leave it's worst show on and make it a hour longer and then can two people with broadcasting and community appeal? I guess I am not aware of what Vicevich has done for the community. Should WTIC's acquaintance be forgot,and never brought to mind...

Very sad news to hear from our son who used to work at TIC (Mikey C). I enjoyed Diane and even Colin - although we did not often agree. I wish them both all the best in the future. They will be sorely missed. And I, too, look for the return of Bob Steele!

As for WTIC's decision - I got a mental picture of a phrase from Annie Dillard's "Pilgrim At Tinker Creek" - they seem to be "playing pinochle in the bottom of the boat".

Eliminate two intellectuals and expand Vicevich by an hour?!? This is the dumbing down of WTIC. What the heck?? Vicevich is about the dumbest, meanest, and embarrassingly undignified, incompetent ego on radio. I used to like him when he was a young, business reporter, but his mommmy must have told him he could the next Limbaugh and he believed it. We use cd's to sheild us from this over-confident, rush-wannabe yokel... and with Colin and Diane gone, so shall WTIC be from our pre-set radio programming.

What a d@mn shame. Thanks Diane and Colin. You can do much better than what WTIC has just become.

After making WTIC a part of whole life, I am also signing off now. While I do not consistently agree with either side of the arguments posed by the liberal or conservative programs and their callers, I respected the fact that the radio station provided balance in reporting that challenged even my own points of view. As Americans, we are all challenged to listen to different points of view so we continue to think about important issues and become well informed. That balance is apparently no longer important to WTIC and I will looking for another radio station after 46 years. Good luck to single minded conservatives and your ability to get monetary support for continuing this radio statio....I'll be listening to CDs. Disappointed.....but giving up the only remaining value (traffic reports) to support balanced reporting is something I'll feel good about as I search for another station.

Perhaps some of the only times I actually "belly-laughed" on the way home. Colin is one of the most witty, intelligent, articulate, in-the-know and creative voices on the radio - anywhere - until now.

Seems like the things I grew up with are fading away... Local radio and newspaper(s), and good, local personalities.

Yeah, my #1 Preset on the radio will be reset too.

I'm not sure I can tolerate Ray on his own.... and Jim stutters and stammers so much, he should be in newspaper work. He always made me feel like I had too much coffee. It was painful to listen. Phew! Click.....

Colin, you are one funny dude, and I hope you turn up in drive time. (Hint Hint) I think you should go fishing on the lake in a red flannel shirt every day, ice or not!

The Arbitron ratings will almost certainly confirm...BAD MOVE, TIC.

Traffic, Weather, Sports and now CRAP Talk Radio, 8 minutes at a time. Is it 6:01 yet?

This is incredibly disappointing, and a huge mistake by WTIC. Will miss both of these entertaining talents, especially Colin. Sad to say I won't be much of a listener anymore; will just check in for weather and traffic, and that's about it. Although conservatism didn't win the election, it's surely winning the WTIC airwaves.

Buddy once played the dramatic ending to Legally Blonde where Blondie makes the commencement address. She quotes Plato and proceeds to explain how he is wrong. Buddy follows up the clip with his own simple wish that our real life representitives would display similar "courage". Not Plato mind you, but some fictional character from a trilogy of movies that display the shallowness of the 1990's. I hope expanding an hour won't make his material too thin.

I am so sad to hear that Colin & Diane have been terminated from WTIC. Yet, someone as mean-spirited as Rush Limbaugh remains. This certainly makes it clear where WTIC stands. I have lost any respect I had for this radio station!

WTIC started going down the tubes when Mark Davis left to go to Channel 8 and the syndicated radio shows came on.
I like the Saturdaty PM Pet show and the Car Doctor on Sunday PM. Even the Tag Sale is better than listening to Colin Mc Enroe. He spent too much time making sexual comments which were sexually harrassing

My God, how could they? This is terrible news! Colin's was the ONLY show I REALLY ENJOYED on WTIC and made a serious effort not to miss. Besides being entertaining I have also found Colin to be truthful and informative with a fair and somewhat liberal point of view.A breath of fresh air after Jim's and Rush's wornout conservative rantings and diatribes.Hopefully another station will snap Colin up immediately as we now sadly say; "Goodbye WTIC"!

I'd rather listen to 3 hours of Rush L. than one hour of the inarticulate, trite, mean spirited, stammering, predictable, silly ego known as Jim Vicevich. As disgusting as Rush L. is, at least he is skillful at what he does. To have Jim V. inflicted upon one causes cringing and embarrassment for the guy's ineptitude. And did I mention his stammering? He studies Rush L's previous day show and imitates it, down to the toxic phrases, but without any of Rush L's skill.

WTIC has no interest in balance and intellect. I can't support what used to be my local radio station. If I ever put TIC on again between 6 am and 6 pm, it will be to collect a list of the sponsors, then let them know that if they support this tripe, then I and my friends will not support them.

Goodbye to intelligence and wit and balance. Good luck to Colin and Diane. I'll be watching to see where you turn up next, and that's where you'll find my radio or tv tuned.

Although I didn't agree with Colin most of the time, it's a shame to see him go. No one has commented much on the real reason they let he and Diane go: money. I wonder how badly TIC is hurting. I only hope Ray Dunaway doesn't go away from being overworked. he is truly intelligent and crisp in the morning.

I am inexpressibly SHATTERED by the unforseen and unforgiveable loss of Colin. What is wrong with those MORONS at WTIC? Can they not recognize the sublime genius and JOY that is Colin? Please, oh please, BARRAGE them with "Bring Back Colin" missives to:
10 Executive Drive
Farmington 06032
Talent of his caliber does NOT come along very often in one lifetime, and I deplore and despair loosing this tremendously precious human being.
Say it ain't so...
SCREAM it ain't so...
God Help Us...
And GOOD RIDDANCE to STUPID, BORING, and TRAGICALLY MYOPIC WTIC.

I posted my name because I wanted people to know who was posting this. I was Colin's producer for 5 years, Stan's for 4 and Mr.Ambrosio and Kevin Nathan's for 5 as well and had the immense pleasure of helping Ray and Diane out whenever their producer James took time off.

I felt compelled to write something in defense of Colin and to pay my respects to my former colleagues Diane and Stan.

I've read the postings and it was just like screening calls for the show, several loved him but many people didn't care for Colin which to me is ashame.

Colin McEnroe is one of the kindest and most thoughtful people I know. His loyalty to his son, WTIC 1080 and ALL of the hosts nicknames included, myself, Bruce, Allison and many others is unmatched and never given enough credit for.

I understand if people didn't care for the show or his political leanings, that's fine, but I got tired of people knocking his character and who he was as a person.

Colin gave me one of the greatest days in my life, my farewell show on WTIC which is something I and everyone in my family and lots of my friends will never forget. If I could return the favor tomorrow for him I absolutely would.

He worked as hard as anyone possibly could to put on a show that was completely unique and fun and avoided conventional talk radio. Whether it was the music played, the guests we booked, the topics, the spot to spots, the great callers we had, sports a trois etc....It was all geared towards giving you something out of the ordinary and different to listen to.

It saddens me to see people that I love and care about let go.

All of my hosts treated me like gold and I want that made crystal clear to anyone that wants to take a shot at Colin, Stan, Kevin or Mr.Ambrosio. Working with these four individuals and of course Arnold Dean and Bruce Stevens made my 7 total years there some of the happiest of my life. I was proud as hell to say these were my boys and I was their producer and friend. They are all some of the best human beings I will ever have the privilege of knowing and if any of you spent any time with them you would understand why.

Diane was someone I also got to know incredibly well in my time there and without going into detail, Diane went to bat for me sometime ago and it is something I am forever indebted to her for.

Diane was a professional in every way and took this job to heart. She worked incredibly hard to put together what she thought was the best show possible whenever her and Ray took the air. She was also incredibly funny off the air and a wonderful person to be around.

And Stan "Naish" Simpson of course came on board and literally took Saturday mornings to a new level. With his energy, content, guests and incredible level headedness when taking calls, Saturday mornings took off.

While all of us hated being up at 5am it was evident that the chemistry between myself, Stan, Chris Frances, Scott Grey, Sam Sampieri and Aaron Kupec was unmatched. We all loved working together, singing together and honestly, just had a blast being with each other and Stan was the head of it all.

I have no doubts that Colin, Stan and Diane will all land on their feet eventually and will find new endeavors. They are not the types of people to get down on themselves or feel pity for their own situation. I've always loved the expression "it's not how you rise or fall but how you get back up again" and these three wonderful individuals will be back again.

Obviously, listeners here are of two opinions: they either like conservative talk radio and listen for that reason, or they detest conservative talk radio, and listen to the NPRs and Colin McEnroe's of the world. You can't blame a company for doing what a majority of listeners might want, which they voice through the listening ratings.

Personally, I've always liked Vicevich because he actually backs up what he says with facts and information. Colin tends to spout off about things without any research into what he is talking about. He constantly attacks others, and always takes comments others make out-of-context. I'm happy with this change (although we'll have to wait-and-see how the afternoon show goes).

Bobby, thanks for your comments above! I will miss Colin's show most of all. Can't understand this decision. I enjoyed Stan's show very much also and the singing you guys did always brought a smile to my face. I will not be listening to 1080 very much at all anymore. Sorry to see this happening.

You've got to be kidding. Diane Smith is fabulous and makes listening to Ray bearable; he needs the balance of another opinion and someone smart and articulate enough to stand up to him. Colin's show made WTIC something to listen to for more than just traffic reports. I agreed with him more than I disagreed but like others posted here, found some of his shticks annoying. But you couldn't listen to his program for any length of time without being intrigued, learning something, etc.
I'm sure I'm too old and too liberal to be the demographic that WTIC is hoping to attract - but in any event, I'm gone. Colin and Diane will both be fine and will go on to bigger and better things, but the rest of us are diminished by their departures.

While I'm generally a "conservative" thinker, I've actually found Colin's show entertaining. Sometimes, of course, he goes overboard, but then again the name of the broadcasting "game" is to be controversial so people will listen. That's why the ad promoting his show says.."love him or hate him, but listen". Sometimes I thought he was right in his positions. Sometimes I thought he was wrong. But at least he had the personality to carry a one man show and make it interesting (...except when he had his "pal" Bill Curry on all the time). But over the years, after he shed that cynical sidekick Bruce Stevens, the show actually got kinda interesting. But that's the way it goes. Either the show pays for itself with listeners or it doesn't. That's the ultimate litmus test.

FLASHBACK: Apparently WTIC has not learned its lesson and made the mistake of removing Colin from the air for a 2ND time. Colin's show genuinely brought in high caliber guests from both sides of the political isle and conducted conversations in a unique, entertaining, and profound manner that elevated one's sense of the issues beyond soundbites and rhetoric.

The backdrop regarding the decision is even more alarming when one considers the type of programming that already pervades WTIC's airwaves.

Maybe there's just more "juice" associated with commercial broadcast outlets, but secretly I hope Colin will be re-established in a format that will be less fragmented with advertisements, traffic, and weather reports and to a forum that will cater to his talents and allow for some of his creative zany antics.

Wherever Colin ends up, it's apparent that he has a strong and receptive audience poised for his return.

With Sports Radio beaming down from Springfield 24/7 , I found myself listening to WTIC less and less. I am surprised though that 2 of the more talented on air personalities were let go. Diane was steady as a rock. Always a great attitude. She made Ray even better. I'm afraid Ray solo will be quite a different listen.

Colin, although we don't sgree on much was a great listen. His sharp mind and quick wit always made me chuckle to myself. If the station wanted to cut costs, I would have started with Scott Gray. He has not changed or updated his game since Arnold Dean retired (or before) The costs could have been cut in many other ways . I love the comment about the Wolfpack.
If 5,000 people go to the games who is at home listening? To have an announcer travel with the team and broadcast to nobody is crazy.

I am suddenly left shocked and dismayed... Colin was a very good friend to me on those long drives home, and even if his personality, at times was a bit hard to take, I am (was) a staunch fan of his intellect, wit and his way of entertaining his audience; especially the way he followed his own style and was true to his thoughts and passions. I will miss him dearly, and WTIC will go by the way of the off switch for a lot of us. Good luck to you Colin.

I'll miss Colin because even if I didn't agree with him a majority of the time, he made me think about both sides of an issue. Pretty boneheaded move by WTIC; I get the feeling they are going to be unhappy with the demographic they're losing. I'll listen to my podcasts on the way home now.

I moved out of state a few years ago, but listened online to Colin's show to catch up om things in CT, and listen to some commentary and insight in a wide variety of areas (politics, music, movies etc...)WTIC is joining its fellow once proud media outlet The Hartford Courant in a downward spiral to insignificance.

I've listened to Colin since the beginning and will miss him and the many, many laughs and interesting discussions he has brought to my day. I can only hope that he will continue to be heard, perhaps in a podcast? That would be awesome - how about it Colin? Here's to you and a great future!

>From Greg , Farmington<
I just hope another station picks up on the traffic and weather quickly, and not a member of WTIC corporate family.I've already switched my presets although I have been listening to TIC much less in the last year or so.Diane and Collin will be missed terribly by my family, I guess 'hate radio' is what the management prefers .and between Vicevitch,Limbaugh and Hannity WTIC is there. WTIC Radio? = Whats Terrible In Connecticut Radio? (Our new slogan)

It’s hard to believe that WTIC is trading away the franchise players.
I grew up listening to Bob Steele with the knowledge that WTIC wasn’t just a 50,000 watt flamethrower of a clear channel radio station, it was the super nova in the southern New England radio universe. The list of “bests” went on and on. From news to weather to sports to balanced discussions on virtually every topic with specialty topics thrown in to spice up the mix, you could be sure that nothing would compromise the credibility and integrity of the content that flowed through the transmitter on Avon Mountain or else you would be answering to Mr. Patricelli.

I thought the loss of Mike Harrison’s intelligent afternoon discussion format was terrible when he was replaced with the truly hateful political vitriol of Rush Limbaugh. He may call his programming “entertainment”, but his spewings have helped transform this country into a more hostile, less welcoming environment. Having a spin doctor in Carl Rove’s image trying to twist the news to suit his agenda is taking WTIC’s credibility to a new low. (The memory of Sarah Palin should drive home my point.) I have always enjoyed Jim Vicevich’s show, but find he can be forcing his views down our collective throats under the cloak of patriotism. Patriotism isn’t the exclusive bastion of the fanatic right.

Diane Smith is always insightful, intelligent and, most of all, welcoming, and balances Ray’s bull-in-a-china-shop personality. Unlike Rush and Jim, she is never one to shove her opinions at us in a condescending manner. Her word is always credible and well meaning.

Colin McEnroe is a treasure comparable to Art Buchwald. We’ve grown with him over the years. Yes, he is opinionated and extremely articulate. What do you expect from a Yalie? I wish I had an online Thesaurus to keep up with him occasionally. He listens to callers and tackles topics that most typical talk shows would shy away from. His compassion permeates his discussions. You can tell he is a good friend.

The bottom line is that I would feel comfortable having Colin and Diane over for a cookout. Their caring nature is evident throughout every word they speak. I’m afraid that in the quest for better ratings, WTIC will have lost its bearings. The shift away from intelligent discussion to the lowest common denominator blabber of mass frenzy is disappointing.

Perhaps the saddest part of this “realignment” of talent is that it is apparently due to financial pressures at WTIC. If WTIC can’t survive in this economic climate, there are fundamental miscalculations anchoring the foundation of commercial radio.

If this, once the strongest voice in radio is in trouble, no radio station is safe. There are comments that AM radio as we know it will cease to exist within a decade. WTIC’s move will hasten its demise.

Perhaps this former super nova is about to become a white dwarf, but I probably won’t see it happening as I will be listening elsewhere...and yes, NPR will be one of those destinations.

Wow, this is shocking news about Colin, Diane, and had not read about Stan. Perhaps this news is our canary in the coalmine of the present precipitous decline of our local, state, national, and world fiscal conditions. It is likely a precursor of greater discomfort ahead for us all.

I can only assume that the General Manager has been given marching orders and is cutting costs without regard to the nature or balance of the final product (as in many businesses).

When out of range of the WTIC 50,000-watt signal, I actually listen to Colin via my computer. He is able to speak intelligently and succinctly about a wide range of topics from his having actually thought about them before. His background and frequent guests provided insight and color to events in Hartford and Connecticut in general.

Diane Smith provided an increasingly thoughtful counterpoint to the Andy Rooney-like Ray Dunaway whom seems perpetually rooted in his college years at Trinity. Jim Vicevich is a strident, self-serving, and inarticulate Rush wannabe as pointed out by others.

Stan Simpson brought a new voice to Hartford and CT through his lively Saturday morning programs.

Thanks to Bobby Sherwood,above, for his courage to stand up and be counted.

Except for Red Sox and Computer Talk with TAB, I am sadly done with WTIC.

Wow, where did all the drooling miscreants come from? I had no idea they knew how to type, let alone use a computer.

If it wasn't for the traffic reports, which I call in to alert them to situations because I feel it is a vital service, I wouldn't listen at all.

The country finally wakes up and pulls back from the brink before a decade of GOP rule pushed us to extinction and WTIC plods along with Buddy & Rush? There's a bunch of suits with their finger on the pulse!

Colin, you will be missed but your show was riddled with ads because they had to make money after the previous 5 hours of neocon drone with no listeners. I prefer your blog with more ideas & info without the ads.

Looks like they've totally gone off the deep end at WTIC - "day runaway" and then all down hill from there. Bye bye!

I will certainly miss Diane, but I will probably give the Ray solo show a try. (Can't see myself switching over to Brad Davis!) Thankfully I'm at work by 9:00 so won't have to have my ears or intelligence assasulted by Buddy. (The man simply cannot speak a clear sentence; hard to know how he's cutting it in radio.)

Colin is liberal, to be sure, but more important -- MOST important --is that he is a smart, educated man, and funny to boot. Sure, he knows he's smart and his manner can rankle us occassionally. But we so need intelligence on our airwaves. The loss of his show is a real tragedy for Hartford. I pray that he will find his way back on another local station. Until then, it's the FAN at evening drivetime for me.

PS: THank you, Bobby Sherwood, for the insider's view on these developments. Well said.

Unbelievable...... This is just terrible news. I have been an avid listener to Ray and Diane every morning on the way to work, and Colin on the way home. I am going to miss Colins humor, and his talks with the Puppet Lady. Good Luck to you both... I am sure you will both make a great comeback. Ray, I will still listen to you but it will be much different without Diane.

Wow! Good luck, Diane, and best wishes. You will be missed. I have long time issues with Colin, but getting laid off sucks, so I will wish him well. No doubt both will land on their feet.

It is interesting to watch the liberal listeners lament the loss of their leader. The attacks on Jim Vicevich are unfounded, unfair and unnecessary. He does a superb job, criticizing both liberals and conservatives. At least he backs up his arguments with facts and quotes.

That is the beauty of the radio: you can change the station at will. Go to the insufferable Err America or NPR for your daily fix of liberalism. Or maybe almost any newspaper or major media outlet. You all act like you will be marooned on an island surrounded by a conservative ocean! You live in deep blue Connecticut for crying out loud! Go vote for Chris "Friend of Angelo" Dodd again, so you can feel better, an he can continue to screw up the economy with his buddy, Barney Frank.

It is poor management to dismiss those who provide balance in discussing the news and other events. I listened to Jim discuss issues and then looked forward to hearing Colin to get another point of view and then made up my own mind. There have been numerous times in which I disagreed with Jim's opinion and others in which I disagreed with Colin's. The important thing was that by listening to both - and reading their blogs - I discovered issues that forced me to do further research in order to make up my own mind. I do not watch television news because I am insulted by networks who allow and encourage their reporters to give biased news - or even blatantly lie. Jim and Colin do have their personal agendas but both provide the sources on which they base them. I will miss Colin's wit. Good luck to him - and Diane as well. I think the management has made a serious mistake in these changes.

did vicevich really have better ratings than mccenroe? i can't believe it, buddy is so stupid and inarticulate and tied to his mommy. is that what radiolisteners like? maybe, it is, after all these years of training to be dittoheads.
but there is very good radio on npr at 9 and 10-12
and on 88.1 at noon (democracy now with amy goodman)

i heard mccenroe being very snarky to amy goodman in one interview. maybe his firing is payback from the universe?

Hopefully TIC will now return to the days when their reporters actually generated their own news rather than the rip and read approach. Ray D. is a dinosaur in AM radio- Diane brought insight into their joint interviews where often Ray had to inject a comment so as to be included in the eventual sound bite. Jim V was a good business reporter at WFSB but does not offer a balanced view during his show. Colin would offer his own views - but would always have listeners who came from both sides on an issue.

Congrats to Bill Pearse - a past colleague from college radio and POP's "All-News" days.

Expand Vicevich at the expense of Colin? Thanks for your years of intelligent radio, Colin.
Man...talk about the 'dumbing down' of radio. Vicevich is the biggest example of that concept.
Hear that sound...it's my radio turning off TIC (except at the 8's for traffic.
See ya!

It's about time. I am so happy that Jim is getting extended to an hour earlier and so so so glad that Diane Smith and Colin are now gone. Happy Happy Happy times are here again. I feel like I have been given a huge New Years Gift. I'm there for you JIM!!!!

I always look forward to switching on WTIC-AM at 10:00am for Jim's show. I've been waiting along time for this extra hour. I won't be scrambling as fast to switch the dial to a static filled WABC-AM at 3:00 now.

While I understand the need for the station to reduce costs when ad revenue is not coming in, these changes will unfortunately change my listening habits…particularly in the afternoon. It would be a stretch to say that I agree with Colin more than 2% of the time, but so what! His job is to entertain and attract and keep new listeners and he does that very well. I tend to be conservative in my thinking and, yes, I enjoy listening to Rush and O’Reilly, but I also make time for Colin on my way home from work. He is a bright guy who is never at a loss for words. He is well-informed and freely admits when he isn’t knowledgeable about a subject. I can honestly say that his views and perspective help shape my own. He provides balance, but more importantly, he entertains. I’ll miss the puppet lady, the guy from the spaceship, and Colin’s verbal altercations with Joe D. Colin’s absence will leave a void. Thanks, Colin, for entertaining me on my way home from work.

WTIC's decision to eiminate Colin McEnroe, the only progessive voice in their lineup, is obviously a politically motivated decision by ownership. How this makes sense in a demonstrably blue state is astounding.Do they think that the full court pressure of a hard right wing agenda will transform Connecticut into Sarah Palin's Alaska? What an affront. For me and most of my friends WTIC is gonezo!

As a Republican who feels extreme right wing morons like Rush and Vicevich and their supporters have trashed our party (think election 2008), I'm sad that WTIC has kept the cancers and dropped the balancing act. Yup. Frees up one radio preset. Bye, bye WTIC!

PS. Isn't this going against the tide right now? Both of Connecticut's Vicevich supporters must be thrlled.

Click
Thats it for WTIC. Next they probably will get rid of Joe D and then the rest of the Husky games. What a stupid move. And they leave that spastic jerk in the morning on.
Come on people - get some brains.

Idiots - remember that this is the station that uses three people to report traffic for two highways. Maybe I'll just pay for the traffic service on my GPS and listen to audiobooks. There is no more local radio worth listening to.

Colin is the most informed and best entertainment in our shrinking local media. Being home grown and having worked for the Courant for years he is much better versed on local and State issues than most. When you did not agree with him on an issue you were able to hear opposing viewpoints and did not feel assaulted like you do on the show that precedes his.

TIC made this same mistake in the mid 90s, removing him from his morning show, replacing him with syndicated crap, to save a few bucks. I'll miss the humor and many of his regular guests. I hope he ends up on another local station, if he so desires. In the meantime thank goodness for NPR and College radio.

There have been times when listening to you opine have been unbearable--when I disagreed with you and banged the dashboard and yelled and then just turned the radio off. But never for long. You made me laugh, shamed my cynicism, showed me the facts behind so many political issues in Hartford and the state, gave voice to personal sorrows and frustrations in lovely ways that came back to me when I faced similar sorrows.

None of your supporters here can really comfort you, but we can send you hopeful wishes for many doors to open as this one closes.

I will miss your voice, but I am very certain it won't be for long.
All the best to you!

I have listened to Colin since the mid-morning show and I will miss him. He ispired me to think about issues I used to care little about and I learned much. I did not care for Diane, but without her Ray is intolerable...I do not understand the logic. Why would management think we want more news in the afternoon..We have NPR for that. I will no longer listen to WTIC and it makes me sad.

There goes my best friend at 3 every day. Save Vicevich, chop Colin.... You have to be kidding! This is just NUTS. Although my political views may (and do) differ from his) Colin is the only voice of sanity in the CT political scene, THE guy who keeps us thinking and growing and questioning. Name me one other personality in talk radio who does that consistently, with the mind challenging humor that Colin displays, and I'll be a loyal listener. Guess for now it's back to my old CD's for the ride home. You just lost me.

COLON WAS HIS USUAL ELEQUENT EGOTISTICAL SELF COMMENTING ON HIS DEPARTURE FROM WTIC RADIO. COLON NEVER TALKED TO PEOPLE, HE TALKED ABOVE PEOPLE. GOOD RIDDANCE.

I CAN NOW START TO LISTEN TO WTIC IN THE AFTERNOON. NOW ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS GET RID OF FATMAN RUSH.

AS FAR AS DIANE SMITH GOES, I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT HER LEAVING. I TRULY LIKED HER INTERVIEWS. SHE KNEW JUST WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK HER GUEST. SHE HAD THE TYPE OF GUEST THAT WOULD REALLY HOLD YOUR INTEREST. I'M GOING TO MISS THEM.

HOWEVER, THE ONLY THING I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT HER WAS HER CONSTANT UMS, UH HUH, YES I SEE, AND THE LIKE INTERUPTIONS WHENEVER HER GUEST WAS SPEAKING. IT WAS MADDENING. MAYBE IF SHE WERE PUT INTO A SOUNDPROOF ROOM AND MADE TO LISTEN TO NOTHING BUT HER INTERVIEWS SHE WOULD HAVE STOPPED.

I agree with Steve, above. CLICK
Listening to Colin on the way home from work was a routine for me. He was always so very entertaining. The station should be ashamed by letting him go. Where are their brains? Plus, they are paying for 2 people instead of one. Signing off WTIC --CLICK!

Too bad about the loss of Colin, guess I can listen to Damon and Jeanine on the FM side more. My only question for WTIC mgmt is how much do you think people want to keep hearing the same news stories repeated? There is only so much top news story from the region to report on and I suspect it'll get old and tired very quickly

WTIC made the wrong choices here. Diane was a nice balance for Ray. I didn't enjoy listening to him alone whenever Diane would be on vacation. As for Colin, I agree with one commenter that this gives 1080 a completely conservative program now. I can barely deal with Jim V and will not ever listen to Limbaugh's lies and hatred. It was nice to have a radio station with the guts to have a liberal talk show host, a very rare find in this country.

Wow. Seriously? Dropping Colin McEnroe? WTIC, this makes no sense. McEnroe is an incredibly knowledgeable, witty, unique and popular talent with a strong local following from across the political spectrum, clearly (note comments above). Quite a feat. He conducted bold, respectful, intelligent interviews with the Ralph Naders to the Joe the Plumbers. We can only hope that McEnroe quickly resurfaces elsewhere on smart local radio with the guts to offer a variety of perspectives. I’m a ten-year listener already looking forward to Colin’s swift return. I can’t accept that this is it.

As some of the previous posts state. Giving vicevich another hour is beyond belief. He stammers and stutters his way through the same anti left bullsugar every day. All we can do is stop listening and of course totally stop patronizing their advertisers. If it is money and not politics or whichever it is hit them right in the pocketbook.

My wife, "Erica from Scotland" was a frequent caller and constant listener to Colin's program. I'd be out in the barn listening to the show and I'd hear Colin talking with my wife, our sheep making a racket in the background, and things would seem alright in the world.

We'll miss your show, Colin. It was tough to get WTIC to come in here in Scotland. Now I don't have to worry about it.

As long time sponsors and keen listeners (until now on both counts) we are shocked and disappointed at WTIC's short-sighted decision.

Removing Colin McEnroe's program is a loss not just for radio listeners but for Hartford area's identity too. Irreplaceable, with large dedicated following, Colin is a local treasure with a refreshing insight - so necessary in our increasingly cookie-cutter world. The 3.00 - 6.00 slot will seem hollow now. What can compete with Colin's original fresh approach which offers a bright alternative to the other cliched choices?

We will sadly miss what was a beloved and vibrant part of our week-day radio listening, and take heart in knowing that such talent will find a way to be with us. Please know that we will be there too, Colin, wherever that is! Best wishes for 2009.

My husband and I are celebrating BIG TIME here today, with the news that WTIC *finally* had the guts to dump the arrogant, sophomoric, uber-liberal Colin McEnroe. Hopefully he'll lose his job writing his worthless columns over at the bankrupt lib-controlled Hartford Courant as well (we are happy to count ourselves among the thousands of EX-Courant subscribers). Gee, maybe Colin will have to actually have to find a REAL job, for once in his life.

What an insult to the historic and powerful 50,000 watt WTIC 1080 Colin McEnroe and his stupid radio show was. Can you imagine what the classy, beloved Bob Steele would think of McEnroe if he were around today?

Good riddance to Colin's hate-filled diatribes about President Bush and all Republican/conservative politicians and ideas in general. His show with Brucie Stevens was absolutely unlistenable... I'm stunned that show lasted as long as it did. Every day they giggled like two middle school girls when they weren't viciously making fun of some Republican woman's physical appearance, ie Katherine Harris or Martha Dean, a Republican candidate for Connecticut Attorney General a few years ago. Colin McEnroe repeatedly referred to Martha Dean - on the air - as "psychotic". Real classy, Colin.

Good riddance to Diane Smith as well. She added nothing to the morning "Ray and Diane show", in my opinion. I always preferred Ray Dunaway as the more substantive host. She was just "fluff" and her constant "Uh-huhs" really irritated me.

EXCELLENT news about Jim Vicevich's "Sound Off Connecticut" expansion! Couldn't happen to a more wonderful, classy guy. I have been a loyal fan of Vicevich's show since Day One. Jim has done SO MUCH in support of our troops and for worthy causes such as ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease... often very quietly. His Sound Off Connecticut concerts in support of ALS have been outstanding.

Both Jim Vicevich and Ray Dunaway have contributed so much to Connecticut and to the Hartford area in general over the years. What has holier-than-thou Colin McEnroe ever done for the community? *crickets chirping*

The Left in this country "owns" just about everything: TV (except Fox News and Fox News Business), the newspapers, with few exceptions, the Green movement, the unions and the univerisities. But the Left will never "get it", regarding talk radio. It is a BUSINESS... a successful radio show must be a consistently SUBSTANTIVE, entertaining and informative show. It has to earn decent ratings and be financially viable. The show should not be a vehicle to endlessly spew hate, arrogance and goofy giggling about childless, worthless stupid stuff. Adios, Colin! :o)

Colin,
Just want to wish you a good future.
I'm sure you will be just fine.
I lean to the Right, and frequently disagreed with you, but you always made me consider your well-voiced point of view.
You did win me over to your mindset on more than one occasion.
As others have said, your show was a fresh alternative to typical talk radio.

Diane,
You also will be sorely missed.
You brought a very well-thought opinion to the morning show, and kept Ray on his toes at all times.
I really was very upset when I heard you were leaving.
It is sometimes amazing how someone can reach out and touch those in their audience, and you did just that.
Best to you in your future.

I don't think either Diane or Colin will be without employment for very long, and I hope that WTIC management is reading blogs like this, and takes a good, long look at their choices.

To TFO - For someone that never listened, I am amazed that you know so much about the show. I think you are a little warped, vicevich - classy, he can't even string a complete sentence together. I think you should come out of the closet.

As much as I hardly ever agreed with Colin, his humor, his way with words, his critiques were fascinating to listen to, and made my wee brain work a little harder. I will miss him very much. Best of luck Colin...I hope tic knows what a terrible goof they have made and possibly change their minds one of these days. Aloha from Bobbie, a dyed in the wool conservative, would you believe :-)

I'm shocked. Between Limbaugh, Vicevich and McEnroe, intellectual dishonesty has been WTIC's stock in trade for years. Now they've gotten rid of one of its biggest purveyors. Hopefully this signals a trend.

I agree with you, TFO, that the show should not be a vehicle to spew endless hate, arrogance, and goofy giggling about childless(?), worthless stuff. And you, Robert, when you speak of schtick turning harsh and obnoxious. Our only disagreement comes in that I believe you have succinctly described TIC's 9 to 3 programming. The pm drive was the only time I listened to AM radio,aside from Red Sox games, and I fear part of today will be spent with the instruction manual of the ipod fm transmitter. I, too, come here not to mourn Colin but to praise him, as do the sheer majority of postings to this memorial (aside from the entries whose first drafts were obviously written in crayon). I view TIC's decision as similar to the denouements that have resulted in the existence of Hummers, light beer, and FOX News(?). I do not understand and am saddened by the turn of events, but life goes on. One day, perhaps, TIC will realize that the further dumbing down of their audience will be statistically impossible...but I doubt it. And so it goes...

I agree with you, TFO, that the show should not be a vehicle to spew endless hate, arrogance, and goofy giggling about childless(?), worthless stuff. And you, Robert, when you speak of schtick turning harsh and obnoxious. Our only disagreement comes in that I believe you have succinctly described TIC's 9 to 3 programming. The pm drive was the only time I listened to AM radio,aside from Red Sox games, and I fear part of today will be spent with the instruction manual of the ipod fm transmitter. I, too, come here not to mourn Colin but to praise him, as do the sheer majority of postings to this memorial (aside from the entries whose first drafts were obviously written in crayon). I view TIC's decision as similar to the denouements that have resulted in the existence of Hummers, light beer, and FOX News(?). I do not understand and am saddened by the turn of events, but life goes on. One day, perhaps, TIC will realize that the further dumbing down of their audience will be statistically impossible...but I doubt it. And so it goes...

I'm in complete shock. I've been listening to Colin for sixteen years. Not only was he engaging, thought-provoking, extremely funny, witty, and informative, Colin had a special way of making me feel that in spite of school shootings, wars, collapsing economies, global warming,and terrorism, somehow everything would be OK in this world. As I listened to his final show on Wednesday, I was filled with a tremendous sadness. Not only has Connecticut lost an "institution", but Colin's termination is a clear reminder of what this world seems to value above all...money and profit. Quite scary. I'm done with WTIC radio!

Sorry WTIC, but the loss of Mr McEnroe means the loss of this listener. Traffic info will now be obtained from Garmin or Google Maps for Mobile and my car has weatherband radio when I need a quick meteorological fix. Don't you realize that the only reason to put up with ads is to listen to some thought-provoking talent? (no comment on Ms Smith). The rest of your "services" can be easily obtained elsewhere these days.

If you want to save money, why don't you ditch the helicopter and strap Mike to a hot air ballon and winch him up over the intersection of 84 and 91 with a larger pair of binoculars. I could recite the daily traffic report in my sleep...Jennings Road...Sisson Ave...zzzz.

Good luck with the expansion of anger radio and Mr V. I have higher morals than to allow myself to be subjected to that dreck.

I agree with the many who no longer have reason (save Red Sox afternoon games)to listen to WTIC, but to think WTIC will learn from their "mistakes" is a false hope. Did our (only 18 more days)POTUS learn from his plethora of mistakes?

Best wishes, Diane Smith, on your other ventures - you have so many irons in the fire, I trust you will stay busy and will continue to wave the flag for CT. I hope you find another platform for not just reporting, but commenting too.

I missed you this morning while driving in and was so sorry to hear you are gone from WTIC now. The morning won't be the same without you.

I was not a Mac-Head and at times, had to turn Colin off for a bit, but I'd always go back to hear what he was saying the next day. I did agree with him most of the time, but more importantly, I thought it was great that WTIC had at least some semblance of fairness by inserting Colin in between Rush and Hannity. Now, there's nothing at all resembling fairness at 'TIC. You have a stuttering, nervous tick of a DittoHead in Jimmy the Vice Grip. God, is he hard to listen or what? Then you have some outlandish insensitive garbage pouring out of Rush's show, like "Obama The Magic Negro" (are you proud, WTIC, that your airwaves are being used to broadcast that tripe?) and then later on we're bombarded with Sean Hannity's inanities. ... You know what? I longer have any reason to listen to your station. So, so long. Hope your advertisers are aware of this negative feedback!

While I will miss Colin to some extent the vile and nasty comments made about others on TIC is uncalled for.

Now you can be upset about who was let go, but the personal attacks on Jim Vicevich is uncalled for. He does a lot for our men and women fighting overseas and brings a different perspective to morning radio.

So while you might be upset to see Colin, Diane and Stan go there is no reason to bash others.

But it was interminable to listen to Diane when she had a TV show or book to plug. More often than not it sounded like "Buy Diane's Absolutely, Positively Connecticut" buy-a-thon than a community news and informational program. And she was always quick to allude to the "fact" she was "talent" and knew famous people or had a sister in Paris or was going to be the "star" at some community program.

And while I am moderate to conservative, I detest both Vicevitch and Limbaugh. They are neither reflective of my politicala beliefs, not the beliefs of the majority of the Republican Party. I never have listed to their programs frequently and won't begin to now. (WTIC should take the next step and can them as well, but I digress).

Ah... Colin McEnroe... Never met a Republican he liked or didn't think he was better than. Colin's extreme left-wing slant was at least tolerable when Bruce was there to try and keep the show a bit balanced. After Bruce left, the show became too liberal and such a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party in this state, it was not worth getting my blood pressue over. I will grant he is in intelligent man, but as someone wrote earlier, if you didn't agree with him, you were immediately unworthy and should be the target of ridicule. And when you tried to have an intelligent debate with him, he would most often take phrases out of context, relying on the fact he was the "host", controlled the airtime and "knew more than you did". Ignoring an opponents strong arguments was a common ploy for Colin. I often wondered how much the state Democratic Party paid him to have their candidates on-the-air as "guest hosts"... Of course I am sure that a complaint about his top-heavy Democratic voices on with him was countered by "well, the conservatives have their sounding board in the middle of the day with Rush"...

I never really listened to either of the mid-day shows because I found both hosts to be out of touch. Other than a brief time, to catch the superior traffic reports, I quit listening to Diane and Colin's shows years ago.

I wish them well in their future endeavors. And am greatful that the WTIC airways maybe now can take a more fair and balanced approach during drivetimes than the carnival huckster and or the "intellectual" dilettante - both with obvious personal agendas to pursue.

I have thought TIC was heading downhill for the past 5 years.. it is just turning into the usual "big national station". While I won't miss Diane, I will miss Colin.. I must admit I not found of Diane, she always sounded like she was better than everyone else. Colin was light and fun, but I could only listen to him on occasion. Either way, may both have a great start on their new careers and may TIC continuing down the road to destruction.

I feel compelled to express my great displeasure with the changes recently made in programming at WTIC. The removal of Diane Smith as co-host in the morning drive-time slot and of Coin McEnroe in the afternoon drive-time slot will cost the station a substantial portion of its listenership, myself included. While I may not have found Diane Smith a particularly compelling broadcast personality on her own, she was an effective foil for Mr. Dunaway, and made the morning program much more listenable than it now seems to be. Colin McEnroe is intellectually honest, and, more often than not, very funny, if not hilarious. It appears that CBS has chosen to center its programming on yet more abrasive so-called "conservative" talk. I always thought that talk radio was supposed to be an entertainment medium; I don't consider continuing diatribes centering on a supposed ethical and moral superiority of the State and National Republican Parties, running from 6AM to 3 PM daily, as particularly entertaining. If I wish to listen to the ignorant venting their prejudices reinforced and egged on by talk-show hosts, I can tune up the dial 280 clicks to the "Talk of Connecticut". Messrs. Limbaugh and Vicevich, on the other hand, actually seem to take themselves seriously; no one else, except perhaps the true believers who define their listenership, does. I find it still unbelievable that Rush Limbaugh continues to draw the market share he boasts. I am forced to conclude that when, like WTIC, radio stations offer no alternative, he and others of his ilk (like Jim Vicevich) will continue to dominate the commercial media. It is particularly sad to think that Colin McEnroe, who has always scrupulously vetted his material, has lost air time to the likes of Jim Vicevich, whose mean-spirited use of recorded clips, and newspaper quotes taken either entirely out of context, or used only in such part as found consistent with his preconceived notion of proof of his prejudices, show why his career has moved to the minor media from something (like WFSB) that approached the majors. Thank God for NPR; after our local affiliate abjured classical music in favor of a talk-news format, I began to wean myself away WTIC. Now, thanks to its ill-conceived programming choices, I shall have no other local option.

What's happening to WTIC is an example of the downside of corporate radio ownership. CBS/Infinity was all too happy to buy up hundreds of stations when they were profitable, now that times are tough, we're seeing penny-wise but pound-foolish cuts.
Who wants to hear the same news stories re-hashed for three hours at a time, each afternoon?
Thankfully there's still NPR. That's where I'll be listening.

The demise of a once proud radio station is complete. Aside from the small minded yayhoos who couldn't wait to get more hate radio, most of us will move away from the station that once prided itself in intellect.
Bob Steele had his word for the day.
Mine would be "Conservative" and I'd
add more if I wasn't constrained by one word (I can think of a few others).
Colin proudly waved the Hartford Banner when this down town desperately needed a voice. He's a true radio man unlike the remaining template conservatives struggling to blame everything on FDR.
Colin, like him or not, was scrupulous about giving both sides a fair shake. You will NOT hear that from the remaining self bloviators. I hope that a wise local station will scoop him up quickly so we can have a voice of moderation and a man who's quick wit, wealth of knowledge and fair mindedness gave us all a succint dissection of the day's events.
Did I mention that Colin is the ONLY TIC personality that's funny?
WTIC was the wallpaper of my youth and since Colin's show, a virtual water cooler.
This isn't about being liberal. The last election clearly demonstrated that we live in a Blue State in a Blue Region and Colin was able to articulate that where the other hosts bumbled and yammered their way through their allotted time. This is about appealing to bottom feeders. WDRC has that market sewed up.
Colin's and Diane's departure leaves WTIC looking like the strip mall of radio that it's become.
NPR, I'm coming back.

I would only listen to TIC for Colin or the news. I still can't believe this. I did not purchase any product advertised during Limbaugh's on air time. I now will NOT knowingly purchase ANY PRODUCTS advertised on TIC in the future.

I miss Colin- most of his commentary was funny and smart- even if I didn't always agree with him, I still enjoyed listening to him. I hate Jim V.- he's just a huge, inflated ball of ego with a healthy dash of bully (like that idiot, Rush). I suspect they gave him more time with Pres. Obama in office ("Big Government and all)so he can complain about the "Nanny State/Country... Now I only listen to TIC for the sport's commentary and UCONN games, weather, traffic, Computer Talk with Tab and Clark Howard. I re-set my TIC memory space to AM 880 out of New York- better "all news" coverage than the "new" TIC.

I'm so glad those two knuckleheads are gone! Any caller with an opposing view was chastized and hung up on. I couldn't stand that show. You guys got your president so now you get what you deserve. Good riddance!

The station would no doubt dump Bob Steele if he was still around. Colin was a truly unique individual, and although I rarely agreed with him, I found his wit very entertaining. The man was as crazy as a loon, but also as sharp as a fox. No need to tune to 1080 any more.

I miss the only real intelligent radio show that Connecticut had left. This signals the continued decline of the US empire. Now CT can focus on listening to Rush Windbag without equal time for opposing viewpoints. Thank-you Colin for the best radio show I ever knew.

ABOUT

Roger Catlin is TV critic for the Hartford Courant and writes a daily column about what's on television called TV Eye. He is also on the board of the Television Critics Association. Before all of this, he was rock critic ... read more